Neil Reed, a former Indiana basketball player most famous for being the victim of Bob Knight’s temper, died on Thursday at the age of 36 of cardiac arrest, according to ESPN.
Former Indiana Basketball Player Neil Reed Dies At 36
Neil Reed died Thursday at the age of 36. His choking by Bob Knight was central to Knight’s dismissal from Indiana.
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In March 2000, Reed alleged that Knight choked him during a practice in 1997 -- a charge Knight denied strenuously until video of the incident surfaced. The incident forced then-Indiana president (and later NCAA president) Myles Brand to institute a “zero tolerance” policy for Knight, who was fired in September 2000 after an incident with another Indiana student.
Reed transferred to Southern Mississippi after the incident with Knight, and was one of the Golden Eagles’ stars in the 1998-99 season, averaging over 18 points per game.
Reed had been teaching and coaching at Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria, Calif., before his passing, according to the Santa Maria Times. He is survived by a wife and two daughters.
For more on Indiana basketball, visit The Crimson Quarry.
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